South Sudan: Dithering on the orders to fire foreign workers

If they withdraw this order, it would be the third time Juba will be retreating from decision to expel foreigners. Two previous ones happened over the past three years, each being pulled out after intense criticism.

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South Sudan orders firms to fire expatriates

By RAMENYA GIBENDI

South Sudan on Tuesday stunned the region by expelling all foreign workers, including thousands of Kenyans.

A government order said all foreign employees of private entities should hand over to Sudanese professionals by October 15. It is reminiscent of a 1972 directive by Ugandan dictator Idi Amin expelling Asians.

The South Sudanese order might deal a blow to Kenyan companies which have invested in that country and rely on expatriate labour for specialised skills.

Kenyan companies with operations in the oil-rich nation include the East Africa Breweries Limited (EABL) which opened a depot in Juba last year.

Kenya Commercial Bank, East Africa’s largest bank by market capitalisation, operates the largest branch network with 21 branches in the unstable country. The bank planned to open two more branches in the current financial year.

Equity Bank has nine branches while Cooperative Bank, which is in a joint venture with the government of South Sudan, and CfC Stanbic Bank, have one branch each in Juba.

South Sudan is relies on oil revenue and its human capital, just like its infrastructure, is still developing.

Aside from the banks, many Kenyan firms in insurance, petroleum and telecommunications industries, have established subsidiaries there.

Aid organisations, NGOs as well as hotels and lodges are also expected to fire foreign staff by mid-October.

The order to kick out expatriates is contained in a September 12 circular from the Ministry of Public Service and Human Resource.

“All the above institutions, corporations and business entities are asked to advertise for the vacant positions by October 15,” read the circular signed by Mr Ngor Kolong Ngor, the country’s Labour minister.

The positions that must be reserved for South Sudanese are: executive directors, personnel managers, secretaries and human resource officer.
Others are public relations, procurement, front office and protocol officers as well as receptionists.

“These posts must be filled by competent South Sudanese nationals,” Mr Ngor said.

INCREASINGLY COMPLEX

Aid operations have become increasingly complex in South Sudan since December 2013 when parts of the country came under the control of opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement.

In July, President Salva Kiir issued an order warning humanitarian organisations not to publish independent statements on the food and nutrition situation without the approval of the presidency.

Attempts to get a comment on how the directive will impact on the operations of KCB and Equity were unsuccessful. The Cooperative Bank opted not to comment.

EABL said it would be monitoring progress and take the cue from the Foreign Affairs ministry.

“We shall continue to monitor the situation as it unfolds,” EABL head of communications Joseph Sunday said in an e-mail.

The Foreign ministry also did not comment on how the move could impact on diplomatic relations with Kenya. It said it was yet to receive the circular.

Uganda’s State Minister of Foreign Affairs in charge of regional cooperation Asuman Kiyingi, said although Juba was autonomous and free to do as it pleased, this particular pronouncement was disconcerting.

Uganda hosts more than 119,000 South Sudanese refugees.

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Juba backtracks on kicking foreign workers out as expected. Again!

South Sudan government officials now say they will ‘recall’ the order to expel expatriates and replace it with an ‘appeal’ to hire locals.

Kenya’s Ambassador to Juba Cleland Leshore told the Nation.co.ke he had been briefed by South Sudan’s Foreign Minister Marial Benjamin that the earlier order to eject foreign workers by mid next month was ‘incorrect.’

“He has informed me that they did not actually intend to chase away foreign nationals working here. What they wanted to do is appeal to companies to give priority to South Sudan. They have said they are going to correct that on Wednesday,” Mr Leshore said on phone from Juba.

On Tuesday, Juba told firms and NGOs to eject foreign workers in positions ranging from executive directors to receptionists by 15th of next month and replace them with “competent” south Sudanese. That country’s Labour Minister Ngor Kolong Ngor argued the move was meant to protect the rights and interests of the people of South Sudan.

The move excludes foreigners working in the UN system as well as consultants, but South Sudan was targeting hotels, aid agencies, oil companies, banks, telecoms, and tours and travel firms.

If they withdraw this order, it would be the third time Juba will be retreating from decision to expel foreigners. Two previous ones happened over the past three years, each being pulled out after intense criticism.

On Tuesday, Juba later denied it was ejecting anyone, even though the notice by the Labour Ministry said foreign workers in the named categories should cease working in South Sudan.

13,000 KENYANS

At least 13,000 of the initial 30,000 Kenyans returned to work in South Sudan after clashes subsided in June. Most work with the UN, others are consultants or business people but some work in Kenyan firms established in South Sudan such as Kenya Commercial Bank, Equity Bank, Cooperative Bank and the East African Breweries. Other firms are involved in insurance, ICT and air travel.

But Mr Leshore told the Nation that Kenyans working in South Sudan would not be affected with the order because most either fall out of the category of jobs mentioned in the order or are working with companies that have long started the integration programmes.

“Most of our companies in South Sudan such as banks have been building capacities for South Sudanese nationals to finally take over. I don’t think we would have been affected as much, maybe if the directive was announced four or five years ago,” he said on phone from Juba.

“Our companies such as KCB, Equity and Cooperative Bank have all exceeded the 80 per cent requirement for jobs going to South Sudanese nationals.

“We are very compliant. The few jobs that are still being held by Kenyans will eventually go to South Sudanese after these companies implement certain programmes. We may have worries in other sectors like hospitality but the advantage is Kenyans have great skill that will take years for locals to have.” he said.

This is because, he argued, Kenyan companies in South Sudan were already working on programmes to relinquish most of the positions.

South Sudan does not have a Labour Act and most of its labour decisions are still copied from Khartoum, though it has been trying to implement policies to accommodate South Sudanese into the workforce.

But just 27 per cent of the entire 8.3 million people are literate, according to the World Bank update for 2013. The percentage could be lower for those holding first university degrees.

The challenge, if Juba goes on with the controversial order, is whether firms will accept to be bulldozed into it and whether the region will still accept South Sudan into the East African

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Uganda warns S. Sudan against expelling foreign workers

September 17, 2014 (KAMPALA) – Uganda’s prime minister Amama Mbabazi says many Ugandan nationals would be affected if the South Sudanese government goes ahead with plans to expel foreign workers.

Mbabazi said Ugandan workers had played a vital role in the reconstruction process after South Sudan seceded from neighbouring Sudan in 2011.

In a statement broadcast on 97.3 Simba FM on Wednesday, Mbabazi called on Juba to retract it plans to dismiss Ugandan workers in South Sudan, warning it could jeopardise existing bilateral agreements between the two countries, saying these were signed on the understanding of mutual benefits to citizens of both countries in term of securing jobs and security measures.

“Ugandan citizens has right to move to South Sudan and South Sudanese had the same right to be in Uganda. I could not see the reason why our people should be subjected to leave from there,” Mbabazi told Simba FM.

South Sudan has since backtracked on moves to expel foreign nationals working in non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and private companies by mid-October reportedly after facing fierce criticism from its neighbours.

On Monday, the labour ministry released a directive, ordering NGOs and privately held businesses to dismiss foreign workers in specific jobs for “the interest of unemployed South Sudanese”.

The directive included both top management and non-management positions.

Uganda responded angrily to the move, with Mbabazi threatening to expel South Sudanese from Uganda and withdraw military support to the country.

The Ugandan People’s Defence Force was deployed to South Sudan at the request of president Salva Kiir to fight alongside the South Sudanese army (SPLA), which has been battling to contain a rebellion led by former vice-president Riek Machar since mid-December last year.

“If Juba continue threaten our citizens in South Sudan, we will ask our forces or UPDF to come back home,” said the Ugandan prime minister.

However, South Sudan’s labour minister, Ngor Kolong Ngor, now claims the decision to exclude foreigners from certain positions was “misunderstood”.

Kampala resident Mungu Stephen told Sudan Tribune on Wednesday that he supported the prime minister’s stance, adding that many Ugandans had suffered heavy losses and mistreatment at the hands of the SPLA and the police service in Juba.

He said it was unfair that Ugandans in South Sudan should be subject to arbitrary detention and arrest without proper reason.

Uganda has been the main importer for South Sudan before and after it gained independence from Sudan.

Many unskilled labour positions that could be filled by South Sudanese are currently occupied by Ugandan nationals.

However, observers warn that any moves to expel Ugandan workers would likely result in a bitter split between Kampala and Juba.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, foreign affairs minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin said that while under South Sudan’s labour regulations certain jobs were reserved for nationals, there was no immediate plans to expel foreign workers.

“There are no foreign workers being expelled even from our region whether they are Ugandans, Kenyans or Ethiopians, Eritreans or Egyptians,” said Benjamin.

“We would like this statement to be very clear,” he added.

(ST)

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PaanLuel Wël

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PaanLuel Wël is the founder and editor-in-chief of PaanLuel Wël Media Ltd, a news website that covers news, opinions, analysis, history, culture and literature of South Sudan and the world. Founded in July 2011 by PaanLuel Wël to create a platform for free expression and constructive dialogue, the website features articles from various contributors, including columnists, commentators, poets, authors, activists and academics. PaanLuel Wël believes that media can play a vital role in informing, educating and empowering the people to participate in nation-building and social transformation. He also believes that media can foster a culture of dialogue, tolerance and diversity among different communities and groups, and hopes to inspire and mentor the next generation of South Sudanese writers and journalists.

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